Women in Leadership

176 Pages·2015·0.98 MB·English

Women in Leadership: The Role of Individual Agency in Leadership Career Decisions of
Female Executives in South Australian Public Service
Syeda Nuzhat E Ibrat
Master of Social Science, University of Dhaka
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for
the Degree ofMaster of Philosophy
Politics and International Studies
The University of Adelaide
February 2015
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Dedication
I dedicate this MPhil Dissertation to my mother Professor Sajeda Khanam Choudhury. She
was my inspiration to do a research on those women who aspire for success in career and at
the same time do not fear to become a mother knowing that it may bring them unavoidable
work/life collisionsand societal judgements.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to express my gratitude for the support of the following people in writing this
thesis:
 My principal supervisor Associate Professor John Spoehr for his invaluable advice,
support, encouragement, and guidance throughout the thesis writing process. Thanks
to him for believing in me;
 Professor Christine Beasley, myco-supervisor, for her assistance and support;
 Associate Professor Ray Broomhill who worked as an informal supervisor for this
thesis. I am thankful to him for his guidance and support. He was always there
whenever I needed, sometime even in a very short notice. This thesis has benefited
enormously from his experience, knowledge and expertise. I am grateful to him also
for his tireless proofreading;
 Mrs. Miranda Roccisano for her editing and proofreading supports;
 Mrs. Gayle Peak, CPSU, PSA, for providing necessary support to contact the research
participants who were female public servants in South Australia;
 The interviewees who devoted their valuable time for this research, without their
participation and help this thesis would not be a success;
 The team of WISeR, The University of Adelaide, for their encouragement, support,
wit, laughs, giggles and yummy foods. During my thesis writing days, I never felt
bored or isolated because of their company.
 Finally, my father Professor Sayed Abdul Hye and my husband Arif Sadat Hai. My
father used to say, ‘things half-done than never done’! Because of his enthusiasm,
encouragement, and guidance I have been able to finish my thesis successfully. And
my husband Arif, who was always there whenever I needed him. I am forever grateful
to these two men in my life for their supports and beliefs in me.
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Table of Contents
List of Figures......................................................................................................................vii
List of Tables......................................................................................................................viii
Glossary of Abbreviations and Key Terms............................................................................ix
Special Clarification...............................................................................................................x
Papers Written during the Course of the MPhil Program.......................................................xi
Declaration..........................................................................................................................xii
Abstract..............................................................................................................................xiii
Chapter One..........................................................................................................................1
Introduction...........................................................................................................................1
1.1 Introduction to the Research Problem..........................................................................2
1.1.1 A Closer Look at the Australian Context..............................................................5
1.1.2 Far from Equal.....................................................................................................8
1.1.3 Competing Explanations for the Glass-ceiling......................................................9
1.2 Tying the Missing Links............................................................................................10
Chapter Two........................................................................................................................14
Context of Research.............................................................................................................14
2.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................15
2.2 The Mainstream Feminist View of the Glass-ceiling..................................................16
2.2.1 Workplace Organisation, Culture and Practice....................................................17
2.2.2 Work Family Collision and Women’s Career Prospects......................................20
2.2.2.1 The Realisation: Dual Earner Households are not Dual Carer Households...20
2.2.2.2 The Myth: Part-time Work is an Easy Way out for Working Mothers..........22
2.3 Post feminist Arguments: A Focus on Choice............................................................24
2.4 Hakim’s Lifestyle Preference Theory........................................................................27
2.4.1 The Philosophy of Preference Theory.................................................................28
2.4.2 Application of Preference Theory in the 21st Century Context............................30
2.4.2.1 Preference theory and feminist ideology......................................................30
2.4.2.2 Preference theory and female employment and career development process 31
2.4.2.3 Preference theory and individual values, motivations, goals and life
aspirations32
2.4.2.4 Preference Theory and Patriarchal Norms, Values and Ideologies ...............33
2.4.2.5 Preference theory and fertility pattern..........................................................33
2.4.2.6 Preference Theory and the Socio-economic Policy Interface........................34
2.4.2.7 Preference theory and leadership equality....................................................35
2.5 Preference Theory: Controversy and Criticism..........................................................36
2.6 Conclusion................................................................................................................40
Chapter Three......................................................................................................................43
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Research Method.................................................................................................................43
3.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................44
3.2 Developing a Conceptual Framework........................................................................45
3.3 Research Strategy and Design..................................................................................49
3.3.1 Research Design................................................................................................49
3.3.1.1 Case Study..................................................................................................49
3.3.1.2 Research Strategy........................................................................................52
3.4 Overview of Methods................................................................................................53
3.4.1 Participants........................................................................................................54
3.4.1.1 Characteristics of Participants .....................................................................54
3.4.1.2 Sampling.....................................................................................................55
3.4.2 Data Collection Technique................................................................................56
3.4.2.1 Short Survey...............................................................................................56
3.4.2.2 Interview.....................................................................................................57
3.5 Data Analysis...........................................................................................................60
3.5.1 Thematic Analysis.............................................................................................60
3.6 Conclusion...............................................................................................................61
Chapter Four........................................................................................................................62
Senior Executive Women in SAPS: the View from the Top.................................................62
4.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................63
4.2 Demographic Information.........................................................................................64
4.3 Examining the Role of Choice and Individual Agency in Determining Career Success
66
4.3.1 Career Trajectory: Career Goal, Ambition and Achievements.............................66
4.3.2 Lifestyle Choice: Socialisation, Expectations and Priorities in Lives ..................72
4.3.3 Individual Agency: Confidence, Social Intelligence and Self-belief....................75
4.4 The Role of Organisational Structure and Opportunity..............................................77
4.4.1 Perception on Gender Equality and Organisational Structure of Opportunity......77
4.4.2 The Reality of Organisational Structure, Culture and Opportunity......................80
4.4.2.1 Equal Number of Participation Matters........................................................81
4.4.2.2 Equal impact, value and influence in decision-making is not an universal
practice 82
4.4.2.3 Equal remunerations, benefits, job security and career prospects are at stake83
4.5 Work/life balance and the Role of Policies and Practices...........................................85
4.5.1 Managing Work and Life....................................................................................87
4.5.2 Work/life Balance Policies: Interviewees’ Experience and Expectations for the
Role of Policy in Relation to their Career Development ...................................................90
4.5.3 Lifestyle Preferences - Having it all....................................................................94
4.6 Conclusion................................................................................................................96
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Chapter Five........................................................................................................................99
Mid-career Executive Women in the SAPS: Experience of Career Progression....................99
5.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................100
5.2 Demographical Information of the Participants........................................................101
5.3 Examining the Role of Choice and Individual Agency in Determining Career
Behaviour and Lifestyle Preference....................................................................................104
5.3.1 Aspiration for Senior Executive Role ...............................................................104
5.3.2 Job Satisfaction and Career Progression...........................................................108
5.3.3 Socialisation, Identity, Expectations and Lifestyle Choice................................110
5.4 Analysing the Role of Organisational Structures and Opportunity...........................112
5.4.1 Perception of Equal Opportunity and Workplace Culture..................................112
5.4.2 Reality of Organisational Structure, Culture and Equal Opportunity.................113
5.4.3 Impact of Organisational Structure and Culture on Career Decision-making.....120
5.5 Work-life Balance and the Role of Policies and Practices........................................121
5.6 Conclusion..............................................................................................................128
Chapter: Six.......................................................................................................................133
Women in Leadership: Choice versus Constraints..............................................................133
6.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................134
6.2 Leadership as a Lifestyle Preference?......................................................................136
6.3 Policy Implications..................................................................................................138
6.4 Conclusion..............................................................................................................142
Bibliography......................................................................................................................144
Appendix 1- Participant Information Sheet.........................................................................144
Appendix 2- Expression of Interest Form...........................................................................154
Appendix 3- Short Survey Questionnaire...........................................................................155
Appendix 4- Interview Questionnaire for Female Non-senior Executives...........................158
Appendix 5- Interview Questionnaire for Senior Executives ..............................................160
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List of Figures
Figure 1 Average weekly earnings, Australia: Manager-selected occupation groups; May 2012....................................4
Figure 2 Men and women participation in the SES, 2011................................................................................................6
Figure 3 Female SES managers in the APS, 2002-2012....................................................................................................7
Figure 4 Conceptual framework.....................................................................................................................................48
Figure 5 Stratified purposive sampling..........................................................................................................................55
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List of Tables
Table 1 Trend data on the profile of women according to the 2004, 2006, 2007 EOWA census......................................6
Table 2 Conceptual dimensions......................................................................................................................................45
Table 3 Data collection samples......................................................................................................................................54
Table 4 Conceptual themes/ topics for interviews..........................................................................................................58
Table 5 Differentiated interview schedule based on research focus and purpose..........................................................59
Table 6 Demographic information on the female senior executives...............................................................................65
Table 7 Demographic information of junior female public servants............................................................................101
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Glossary of Abbreviations and Key Terms
Abbreviation/ Term Explanation
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
APS Australian Public Service
ASO Administrative Service Officer
ASX Australian Stock Exchange
AWALI Australian Work and Life Index
CPSU Community of Public Service Union
EL Executive Level
PSA Public Service Association
SAPS South Australian Public Service
SAES South Australian Executive Service
SES Senior Executive Service
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